Most people have come to a point where they've realized that they wanted to live a healthier life. Some even go the extra mile by having a planner, a focus group, or an accountability partner just to achieve their goals, feeling invigorated with the belief that they will see it through to the end.

However, what usually starts as a New Year's resolution or a new personal decision often turns into another moment of weakness, another slice of pizza while watching Netflix. Not for Lexi Reed, though, for she overcame temptation and went from 485 Pounds to 173 Pounds!

How The Journey Started

For some, giving up might not be a big deal. But for Lexi Reed, it was more than a big deal; she needed to give up on her old self. She was just fed up, and there was no going back, for she has had enough of her unhealthy lifestyle and was ready to make a change.

Lexi, with the help of her loving husband, took the next step towards liberation. It was an inspiring journey, and it kept motivating millions of people around the world who wish to achieve the same result.

First, They Got On The Scale

Lexi and Danny Reed were a happily married couple. However, one fateful day, they felt it was time to have a total lifestyle overhaul and decided to check their weight. They got out the scale, and Danny weighed 280 pounds. But when it was Lexi's turn, she knew the time to make a drastic change has come.

What the scales showed surprised her, for it was at a whopping 485 pounds! Of course, making such a huge change was not going to be easy. They were both in it together anyway, and that will be all the motivation they needed.

Embarrassing But Motivating Instances

In her everyday life, Lexi had come across several embarrassing situations. There were times it looked like people weren't forgiving when it came to her stature. An example of this is what happened at a park on a particular day. She was not allowed because the operators believed she wouldn't fit in the seats.

There were also times when she found it difficult to walk a block or climb the stairs. In such cases, there was nothing that could be done. Though she was embarrassed, she realized that it was one of those things that should serve as a lesson for her.

They Changed Their Daily Habits

Lexi and Danny decided that a total reset was needed. They made it their New Year's resolution, which is easy to make but following it through is usually the problem. More often than not, it is easier to forget diet books, resume habits, and embrace the familiar. It is not easy to change old habits, and it's even harder to start new ones.

It's a good thing this amazing couple was ready for an overhaul, changing everything from their diets to habits. They were determined to embrace the change no matter how much and how long it takes. One of these was reducing their daily calorie intake.

Go Hard Or Go Home

Though it's hard to believe, they never had a trainer, a meal plan, or even a plan to undergo surgery. These options are pretty obvious and easier for most people, but it would have meant spending a sum of money, so Lexi and Danny had to depend totally on their own strength.

Realistically, we know that everyone goes on a unique path when a goal is set. No one method is better than the next or easier than the other, so long as it works for you, it's all good. This was what worked for the pair, and so they stuck to it.

The Resolution That Stuck

Some decisions are easier to make when there's a loved one beside us. We understand that everyone cannot be so lucky to have their loved ones cheer them on or be involved every step of the way. Even when Lexi and Danny had no additional help from the outside, they sure have each other.

First of all, junk food had to go, and fresh ones were fully embraced. Another thing they did was to make the gym their second home. The plan was to have at least 30 minutes of workouts every day, five times a week.

They Recorded Their Progress Everyday

It has been said that a great way of showing yourself how well you're doing and how far you've gone is by taking a record of your progress. It has a way of keeping you on your toes, so for Lexi, she decided to create an Instagram account to track their progress.

We all love to follow stories such as theirs, so it's no surprise that they became an absolute sensation. But as for Lexi, she probably had no idea how many lives she'll be influencing when she created that Insta page. People just wanted to know who this determined couple was...

Helping Others Along The Way

credit: @fatgirlfedup

Slowly but surely, their following began to grow, and before they knew what was going on, they already have half a million Instagram followers. Although this was just the beginning, it was definitely something to keep them going, and being noticed changed many things for them.

It was nice to have so many people and virtual friends supporting their journey and looking out for them. Apart from having each other, having others look up to them kept them accountable. What began as a personal journey in 2016 has grown to a career today.

The Best Support System

We are not sure she would have achieved all this if she didn't have such a supportive partner. It is perhaps the most crucial and motivating part of her journey. Danny's efforts can never be overemphasized. With his wife, he also made a great effort to transform too.

Lexi, on her part, always put up loving posts about how her husband never made her feel unloved or made her feel less of herself despite her size. She made it known that what mattered to him wasn't her size or what people think about her; it was her happiness.

He Loved Her For Her

Their year of absolute turnaround was 2016, a year after they got married. According to Lexi, she had been overweight all her life, even before she ever met Danny. No wonder she was fond of letting everyone know that her husband never had issues with the way she looked.

Though he had his own problems, he never stopped making her feel loved. This was the best kind of support anyone could ever ask for, and it was why the whole process seemed easier for her. We can't help but root for this lovely couple, just like the many other people following them.

Witnessing Their Progress & Seeing Results

After a few weeks of immense work, the results became quite noticeable. It was like a miracle, but it certainly wasn't. It was all their hard work. In their updates, they talked about how they were able to follow their plans, learned from their mistakes, and the steps they're taking to right their wrongs.

Lexi told the world how she always tries to ensure that the posts on her page were honest and genuine, especially seeing as so many people are starting to look up to them. She prefers an unfiltered version of their journey, so she doesn't gloss it over in any way.

Limitations From Their Previous Lives

In her posts, Lexi also talked about how their past lifestyle influenced how they live daily. She opened up about how they were unable to do everyday things that other couples do, like going on dates, and how going out used to be a chore, so they had to stay home at all times.

She tried to describe how it was to always stay at home, which she said is never good for anyone. They just sit right there on their couch, bingeing on Netflix with pizza and soda for company.

Their Joint Decision Paid off

Another remarkable feat of theirs is how they were both on board with the same goals. It was another thing that made all the difference. If Danny had been satisfied with his own life and wasn't willing to join Lexi in her quest, we can't imagine what would have become of this journey.

They were on the same wavelength in their decision-making, which was how they were able to embark on such a life-changing journey together without reservations. They had realized early that it will likely be easier if they do it together.

Age Of Discovery

Lexi worked at a law firm where she came across people with disability problems because she filed for their disability benefits. On one of these days, she realized this could be her in the future if she did nothing and continued living a careless and unhealthy life.

According to her, it's all about her choices and not a societal standard. She revealed that she and her husband thought about children in their future but couldn't go ahead with it due to all that was happening in their lives. This and many other reasons summed it up for Lexi.

They Cut Off Sugary Drinks & Junk Food

For Lexi, this was a lifelong battle. She had tried to change her ways, lose some weight, and get fit to no avail. She had tried skipping breakfast, only to end up having a huge lunch. And on days she ate breakfast, it was always a platter full of all her favorite carbs. It was a never-ending struggle.

Danny, on his part, said it was easy to keep fit in his youth because of all the activities he engaged in. However, as soon as he stopped those activities, he packed on the weight. He also said he got more comfortable and added more pounds on after he got married.

The Road Was Rough & Bumpy But the Results Were Worth It

In the process, Lexi let her followers know that the road to success isn't always nice and smooth and that goals are not easily achieved without sweat and determination. Yes, we all know that discipline is key. However, it's essential to know that faltering once in a while doesn't have to mean it is over.

Lexi herself had problems in the course of her journey, but she never allowed it to be the end. She knew fitness is a never-ending journey, and she was ready to go with it. After all, this was her body, and she had no duplicate.

Honest Documentary

Honesty, they say, is the best policy and Lexi never joked with it. All through her journey, she never edited any of their photos or hid when she doesn't get the desired results. She exposed and shared all.

As she got noticed through her fitness journey, she became an influencer to many people who had the same issues as her, who wanted to do better by themselves. Therefore, she felt the need to remain truthful to her followers, showing them that we are all only human and can only try.

They Shed Off The Weight

There are so many incredible parts to this couple’s journey. One of which is how they were able to lose more than half the weight within such a short time. And considering how much weight we are talking about here, it goes to show how dedicated and determined they were.

In the end, their hard work did not just pay off; it was seen and applauded by people from all over the world. It was not just recognized, too, for it also inspired many and gave hope to those whose resolution had failed.

Underlying Health Issues

Although she was not officially diagnosed with any ailment because she hardly went for checkups, Lexi felt she was probably pre-diabetic before her weight loss. She admitted that she was always having joint pains and was having trouble breathing. This had made the entire process difficult for her because it greatly impacted what she could do every day.

In spite of these challenges, Lexi went ahead and embarked on her drastic fitness regime. These complications led to a few struggles, but she pulled through all the difficulties in the end.

Alternate Healthy Choices

One of the first things to consider when it comes to a process such as theirs is healthy eating. Lexi and Danny conceded that was the most challenging part for them. They had to change their relationship with food and made it fun and adventurous by experimenting with different food items.

They opted for healthy options while still trying to enjoy their meals. Take pizza, for example. They prepared it from scratch instead of getting takeout; that way, they have full control over the ingredients. They were able to keep the cravings at bay while enjoying their favorite dish at the same time.

Inspiring & Influencing

Although the resolution they made was for a month, they didn’t just stop there. The couple fell in love with the new healthy lifestyle, so they continued even after reaching their goal. They decided to keep inspiring other people on a similar journey.

But even though Lexi didn’t need surgery to slim down, she soon realized that she might have to consider it for an entirely different reason. Due to how much weight she lost and the rate at which she lost it, she had excess skin hanging on her, and it was not possible to shed all that on her own.

She Made A Bold Choice

Lexi revealed that she initially didn't intend to go under the knife, but she had no choice but to do so because of the excess skin. It just doesn't make any sense to carry flabby skin around when she can quickly get rid of it. This was also part of her journey, and she accepted it.

She decided to remove the excesses, which was useless as it was impossible to exercise skin away. It may appear easy, but it was never an easy decision to make. The surgery took several hours, during which two feet of skin were removed.

Some Skin Gone, Some Weight Lost

Lexi was so accountable that she still made it known that she was taking off seven pounds of weight with all the excess skin, even though it was the one she couldn't lose naturally. With the help of a cosmetic surgeon in Washington, D.C, she got rid of more pounds. All this with her dear husband right beside her.

For Lexi, this was personal, and she was not ashamed of showing off the evidence of her hard work. She updated about every detail of the process on her page so that others can follow and learn.

An Influencer With Over A Million Followers

By the end of it all, Lexi's initial 500k followers had doubled. Not only had their story gain so much attention by then, but their reach had also expanded. On her Instagram page, she shares everything she and Danny eats, their daily workout regimen, and inspiring quotes, thereby also giving other people hope.

Lexi hosts several challenges for people on her page, too, as it was one of those things that helped her get started. Aside from social media, their awe-inspiring story was also featured on several lifestyle blogs and shows.

Positivity Is The Way To Go

Lexi and her beloved husband promote a healthy and wholesome lifestyle above all else. Their story is one that speaks of hope and sheer determination. It has not only changed their lifestyle and helped others, but it has also brought about a career change for them.

When they started, Lexi worked in a law firm, and Danny had a job at an optical service company. Now they are well-known bloggers at FatGirlFedUp and DiscoveringDanny. And even as they are scaling new hurdles, the couple is still going strong and inspiring people out there.